Money will be used for equipment, future attorney fees

This screenshot of a Web page shows Addison Mikkelson's attempt to raise funds for the purchase of video equipment and legal fees he has encountered in his runs-inS with Topeka law enforcement officers, whose activities he videotapes.

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A Topeka teenager known for filming law enforcement officers has kicked off an online campaign to help him pay for equipment, legal fees and attorneys he may need in the future.

Addison Mikkelson, 17, said he established a campaign called Operation Freedom on www.fundly.com on Tuesday night.

In one of the photographs on the Fundly site, Mikkelson is wearing a shirt with the word “POLICE” written on it.

“It (the campaign) is just there to help me,” he said. “No one should be obligated to donate anything.”

Mikkelson said he would save receipts and share with the public what he does with the money. He said he isn’t trying to make money off of his video recordings and doesn’t want anyone to think he is running a scam.

The campaign funds will help him pay for new equipment, pay off equipment he has and help him with any attorneys fees he may have in the future. The website states Operation Freedom’s goal is to raise $1,000.

Mikkelson made national headlines at the end of December when a video he posted of Topeka police officers arresting him for crossing against a red light went viral. He pleaded not guilty to that charge March 3.

“I record police officers to hold them accountable for their actions,” Mikkelson wrote on his campaign page. “I DO NOT hate police officers, but I do believe they should be held accountable for what they do.”

He also wrote: “I would like to thank everyone in advance for donating to this campaign, I can promise you all it’s going to be put to good use. If you cannot donate, it’s not a problem at all, sharing this page on your Facebook wall helps out a lot too!”

Mikkelson on March 3 said he will pay a $142 ticket he was issued Feb. 16 for not stopping at the end of a drive before pulling out. A third ticket was issued to Mikkelson at the end of February for inattentive driving and television receiver visible to driver in vehicle.

His trial has been set for 10 a.m. April 7.

“When I uploaded that first video, I didn’t think it would go anywhere,” Mikkelson said.

While he has received praise from some people for what he is doing, he also has received criticism. However, Mikkelson said if he had to do it over, he would still post the videos.

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So I'll just say it's your bed. You made it. Time to sleep in it. Grow up. Quit begging for money for a "problem" you made yourself where none existed. Go to work, or go to college, and don't go away mad, but PLEASE......... just go away.

Well, gosh, big shock. As predicted, it seems this little guy is going to promote this issue for all it's worth. While he states he isn't trying to make money off his videos he states the campaign funds are going to be used to pay for new equipment and pay off equipment he already has as well as fund any future attorney fees.

However, he proceeds to proclaim, “It (the campaign) is just there to help me”. Yes, indeed, it appears it is going to help him. Help him pay off his debt for video equipment he already has, which might suggest a credit card debt or some type of loan, either way, a debt he previously committed to upon purchase. And, yes, indeed, it appears it is going to help him procure even more video equipment. Oh, and, those funds will be used to pay future attorney fees that will assure he has to accept no consequence of his own.

But, he certainly is a considerate and truthful little guy because he has assured everyone he is going to save his receipts and share them with the public. I mean, that way the public is able to see all the equipment he has bought with their 'donations' so that it is clear he was never trying to make money off his videos. And, he has been gracious enough to relieve the public from any feelings of guilt should they not give him money as he so generously stated, “No one should be obligated to donate anything.” And, then, he even went on to state, "“I would like to thank everyone in advance for donating to this campaign, I can promise you all it’s going to be put to good use." Such an extremely grateful young man who, again, graciously reassured the public, " If you cannot donate, it’s not a problem at all, sharing this page on your Facebook wall helps out a lot too!”

thanks for being another embarrassment to Topeka,,,,,please go away and stay away you are nothing more than a spoiled brat of bad parenting with too much time on your hands and no brains in your head. I watched your "recording" and found you to be the aggressor with a smart mouth and bad manners and not enough sense to shut up and leave when you are told.

What Addison is doing is important. I don't think HE even realizes how important it is.

And for many of his critics, and the blind police-supporters here, I get the feeling that many of you have no idea at all about what a huge issue this is nationwide, and even world wide.

There are copwatch groups all over the place *world wide*. This is far beyond just Topeka and the Topeka Police Dept. And it is far beyond just this one kid who has become a target of the TPD because he recorded them acting like bullies.

There are new cases, and videos popping up daily of cops abusing, beating and bullying people for recording them, and outright LYING to people telling them that it is illegal to record the police.

*IT IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL TO RECORD THE POLICE*

We need people like Addison recording the police. And thankfully with more and more people carrying cell phones with cameras, we are seeing more and more of the abuse (And occasionally heroics) dished out by cops towards law abiding citizens.

I hope he raises a lot of money. I am fine with it if he buys himself a few tacos as well. I'm cool with him raising money to pay off fines or tickets....I've had to do it before as well in the past.

I hope he buys more cameras and mounts them all over himself and his car with direct live uploads.
I'd love to see him raise enough cash to start buying cameras for other people so they are always available and at the ready to record the cops (Or politicians, or criminals of whatever gang)

If you don't want to give him any money, then don't. But it is a fairly safe bet that sooner or later the cops that bully him (And hundreds of other people in Topeka, you better believe it) are going to cost us ALL a whole lot more money when the city has to settle lawsuits.....and we STILL have to pay to keep a cop who SHOULD be in prison on the payrol or "Paid leave".
Are the SAME people crying and whining about Addison trying to raise a few bucks for better cameras going to suddenly 'buck up' and offer to foot the bill for the damages that those cops do?

If the cops are doing nothing wrong, then they have nothing to worry about.

This is a much bigger issue then many of you realize.

I hope that none of you people being critical of this kid ever refer to yourselves as "Libertarians" or "Conservatives", because you are far from it.

Do you want to throw a big wrench in the works for this kid?
Want to stop his "joyride" right in its tracks?

How about if the COPS (And their supporters/apologists) chip in a bunch of money and buy this kid some good cameras, high speed 4g internet streaming, and a fuel card.

Hook him up. Set him up with some pro quality stuff, and encourage him to record the police as they protect and serve the public (Yes, thats right, Protect and Serve the PUBLIC)

It would be an awesome positive public relations move.
One that says
"We the Topeka Police Dept have nothing to hide, and we appreciate our tax paying citizens who want to keep us all safe and free. So we are helping to equip Addison (And his friends) with good quality equipment so that we may weed out any bad officers, and quickly and legally settle any complaints or lawsuit and ensure a good positive working relationship with the public that we are hired to protect and serve."

THAT would speak volumes.

But sadly, what also speaks volumes are the dimwitted and unaware lowbrows that are so critical of people like Addison.

Then by all means. Fork over your hard earned money while he lounges around in his mommy's basement until he decides to go out and create a problem that wasn't there. At least that is all I've seen of his videos so far.
Yes, there are bad apples out there. I haven't seen that case yet with his videos.
This kid feels he has the right to video wherever and whomever he wants. He started with the video taping a female coworker while at work. So, was it ok for him to get paid by his boss for doing something he wasn't paid to do? Is that considered stalking? Is this the kind of crap those of us with daughters will have to deal with because his rights are more important than theirs? Don't worry, my daughter has been taught to defend herself.
I think it is irresponsible for people that really don't know this kid to just blindly fund his fancy. If he wants to film some real dirt and build real credibility let him get a job and fund it on his own first. Then he can truly take pride in his hard work paying off and then have some real proof he is doing great and profound work.

This isn't news. Other than a few posters here, I know of no one who thinks it IS news. I do know a lot of people who think it's ridiculous for the C-J to give this kid the attention he so desperately demands.

A lot of people got fed up with the publicity C-J provided to a church of attention-seekers in this town. Those people are called "former CJ subscribers".

First, Tuna you are just as inmature as the punk doing this "public service". Your comments expose your lack of respect for a badge too.

Second, "“I do not regret it,” he said. Trust me , he will. As will his Mom. He is playing a game with men and women who are dead serious when on duty. When the camera trick is no longer getting him a rush, what will his next toy be? My bet is he will be locked up within in Juvennile within 3 months.

You are not some crusader against some horrible injustice. You created and invented an issue that wasn't present until you got involved. Are there 'problem' police in town---well I suppose there may be. But you aren't helping.

If you started to raise money so you and mommy can move to ANYWHERE then you might be on to something.

I am the grandson of an old-time, old-school Topeka cop. He started as a motorcycle patrolman and finished as a detective --- and got blown off the gun turrets of a couple US Navy gunships in between, fighting to preserve our Liberty from oppressive governments. He carried a sidearm, a nightstick and a blackjack, and could drop you expertly with any of the three ... If you made him. Most times, though, his brains and respectful nature and persuasive skills (and the fact he was 6'4" and built like a brick house) made that unnecessary ... I have had people tell me they remembered him dancing drunks out the door of North Kansas Ave bars at closing time, to "The Tennessee Waltz" ... while most others would have clubbed them and dragged them out to the street.

My grandpa wouldn't have chased the kid down and given him bogus tickets.... He might have told him to hop on the back. Officers doing their jobs well don't fear being observed or filmed.

One thing ... Addison, he would have given you about one chance to class-up your mouth. If you want to be treated with respect, you have to stay on the high road. Speak the truth, let your camera show the truth, and don't sink to name-calling. If officers are behaving as stupidly as the last few I've seen in your viedos, people will be able to see what they are --- give us a little credit, and elevate your mouth and your game. If I see a pledge from you to do that, I'll make a donation in honor of my grandfather.

There can be two sides to this kid's problems. On one hand I see constitutional issues with making him to stop filming. On the other hand he shouldn't be in the officer's face with his camera, either.

It has happened on more than one occasion where the police have beaten the bad guy far beyond submissiveness. We all remember Rodney King. And many have seen the actual police station videos where both men and women maybe moved too slowly for the cop or did not respond to the officer's liking and were beaten senseless as a result. I guess it would be safe to say that if an officer were so disposed to actions like that then he would also not wish to be recorded.

I would wager a guess that most officers of the law would either not engage in excessive beatings of a suspect or mind a camera being present if kept at a reasonable distance. I would like to think our police are not so paranoid that they feel compelled to take such control of their "situation" as to preclude an obvious innocent bystander who is a respectable distance away from filming their activities.

While I won't be contributing to the kid's fund I do hope any judge would rule against any perceived police paranoia. Perhaps some training teaching police when and when not to exhibit thin skin as well as many examples of rights conferred by the constitution would be appropriate.

People learn in different ways. This kid will soon be making more decisions based on actual experience as to proper boundaries. He'll be alright.

I have a LOT of respect for Police officers.
Plenty of them are good, moral, fair and just people with a lot of personal integrity. They have a genuine caring for the public that they protect and serve, and they do not hold the "Us verses them" attitude.

HOWEVER, there *ARE* some real bad apples in the TPD. Truly dangerous psychopaths that managed to get a gun and a badge. "Cops" that give ALL of them a bad name and rep, and ultimately make the entire job, and the public, a lot more dangerous and hazardous then it ever needs to be.

And yes, a few bad apples WILL spoil the whole bunch.
And at the VERY least those cops that are abusive, disrespectful and bullying or violent towards the public are what erodes the public's faith and respect towards ALL of the police officers. And THAT makes the job a lot tougher and more dangerous for ALL of them.

We need people like Addison who are willing to keep an eye of the police, and what they do.

...You're okay with smacking his mother around? Uh, why?! If you're trying to be funny, you're failing miserably. Violence against women is NOT a joke, nor is hitting a child. Do you subject your family and friends to such abuse? How 'bout strangers?

...With Addison's attempt to procure funds for his past misadventures with law enforcement officials. Nobody is obligated to give him anything. While I generally support what he has done, I won't be contributing to his defense fund. However, if other people are inclined to give him money and resources to continue his actions, more power to them.

I still don't understand the vitriol directed at Addison and his family, though. He seems a far better person than those juvenile delinquents who are true menaces to civil society. I think it's more than disappointing so many people resort to ad hominem attacks when talking about him, too. You can disagree with his perspective without hurling epithets at him.

While I think most law enforcement officials are reasonable people, there are more than a few who exhibit such egoism that they can't stand to be challenged in any situation. As public officials whose job it is to protect as serve the citizenry, law enforcement officers shouldn't object to being videotaped.

Perhaps if he did not intentionally bait and antagonize the police they could concentrate on those menaces to society. They put up with so much grief and disrespect from those 'menaces' they don't need or deserve the purely manufactured crisis Addison has created.

Your grandfather is exactly the type of cop America dosnt want these days. In this age the first time he gave some drunk a wrap upside the head with a blackjack he would be in federal court and looking at prison time. When I first started the old school guys getting ready to leave where the best. Old tough guys that could solve any problem that came their way. People respected them and bad guys feared them. The way it should be. You hurt a kid or a women it was lights out. Back behind the scenes is where court was held a lot of times. Shoot, you did that today, CNN headline news for a month. Community protests, outraged politicians. You name it. They would have your gpa doing 15 in federal prison in a heart beat. That's were we are these days. You can't compare policing from the 60s 70s 80s to these days. It's impossible. Scummy lawyers judges with agendas political pressure community pressure all make those old school days a dodo bird. People want social workers with badges these days. Then when crime runs rampant want to know why the cops are so soft. Look around here a cop had to shoot a guy trying to kill him with a butchers knife and there were 2 dozen comments wanting to basically charge the cop with murder. Shoot the knife out of his hand ! Just insane stuff like that. The cops involved in this incident with this kid issued citations because that was the correct course of action. They CYA'd and did as they were trained. They are a different breed these days because they have to be.